Express News Service Posted online: Wed Nov 17 2010, 01:38 hrsLucknow : A case was registered against a cabinet minister of Mayawatigovernment and seven of his supporters under SC/ST Act and IPCsections in Sitapur district on Monday night following a local court'sorder.Interestingly, the complaint on the basis of which the case has beenregistered against Ramhet Bharti — Cabinet Minister for Election,Consumer Protection, and Weights and Measures — was filed by a formerBahujan Samaj Party worker, Moolchand Gautam.

Gautam, who was recently expelled from the primary membership of theBSP, had approached Chief Judicial Magistrate court of Sitapur onNovember 2 alleging that Bharti, his supporter Kuldip and six othershad issued life threats to him for withdrawing the case registeredagainst Kuldip which was filed three months ago.

He had also alleged that the minister's men were demanding money, saidSitapur Superintendent of Police (SP), Jyoti Narayan.

The case against Bharti and his supporters have been filed under IPCsections 386 (extortion by putting a person in fear of death orgrievous hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breachof peace) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) and SC/STAct.

Primary investigation has revealed that Gautam had a dispute withminister's supporter over some local issues, said the SP. Gautam hadbeen jailed twice in 2007 and 2009 in separate cases of assault and isknown for lodging complaints against his rivals.

Bharti, meanwhile, denied any links with Kuldip and six other personsnamed in the case. "I have never met or had any association with thepersons named in the FIR who have been referred to as my supporters.The allegations of threatening and demanding for extortion arebaseless," the minister said.

He, however, admitted knowing Gautam. "Gautam had been a partyworkerearlier, but was expelled following his activities. Recently, he hadcalled me up twice seeking some monetary help, but I refused to helphim," he added.

Charges against Ramhet Bharti and his seven supportersIPC sections386(extortion by putting a person in fear of death or grievous hurt)504(intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace)506(punishment for criminal intimidation)Also under SC/ST Act

'Pejawar seer should accept a dalit as his disciple'Udupi, Nov 16, DHNS:

State Backward Classes Commission former chairman Dr C S Dwarakanath,taking exception to the call of Pejawar seer to Dalits to take'Vaishnava Deekshe' said that the 'open invitation' seems more like apolitico-religious conspiracy.

Speaking after inaugurating 'Dalita-Shudra Swabhimana' convention on'Madhwa parampare Vs Krishna Kanaka parampare' here at NarayanguruSabha Bhavan on Tuesday, he said that the seer does not want Dalits tobe brought in to the folds of Hinduism.

"He pretends to give religious identity to Dalits but if he is truefrom heart then he should accept a Dalit as his disciple and alsoallow Dalits to be present near the sanctum sanctorum of the temple,"Dwarakanath said

Will the Pejawar seer accept our invitation for 'sahabhojana?' he questionedHe said "Krishna mutt belongs to all. The recent decision of thegovernment of handing over Krishna temple to Ashta mutts was takenonly due to the pressure from Pejawar seer on Higher EducationMinister Dr V S Acharya," he added.

HYDERABAD: Around 30 Scheduled Caste/Schedule Tribe students ofBachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS) at Nizamia Tibbi (Unani)Medical College on Tuesday alleged discrimination and harassment bycertain members of faculty and students. Demanding protection fromsuch harassment and action against those involved in discrimination,students and their parents threatened agitation and cases under SC/STAtrocities Act. Different dalit organisations too came in support ofthe students who at a press meet today claimed that faculty memberswere threatening to fail them in examinations and harassing as to whythey took admission in the course. "After government made provisionsof taking Urdu as a language to qualify for admission to the BUMS,these students got admission but are being subjected to harassment,"G. Shankar, Secretary-General, A.P. SC Sankshema Sangham.

If timely action was not initiated by the college authorities andgovernment, agitation would be launched soon, he said.

'Pejawar seer should accept a dalit as his disciple'Udupi, Nov 16, DHNS:

State Backward Classes Commission former chairman Dr C S Dwarakanath,taking exception to the call of Pejawar seer to Dalits to take'Vaishnava Deekshe' said that the 'open invitation' seems more like apolitico-religious conspiracy.

Speaking after inaugurating 'Dalita-Shudra Swabhimana' convention on'Madhwa parampare Vs Krishna Kanaka parampare' here at NarayanguruSabha Bhavan on Tuesday, he said that the seer does not want Dalits tobe brought in to the folds of Hinduism.

"He pretends to give religious identity to Dalits but if he is truefrom heart then he should accept a Dalit as his disciple and alsoallow Dalits to be present near the sanctum sanctorum of the temple,"Dwarakanath said

Will the Pejawar seer accept our invitation for 'sahabhojana?' he questionedHe said "Krishna mutt belongs to all. The recent decision of thegovernment of handing over Krishna temple to Ashta mutts was takenonly due to the pressure from Pejawar seer on Higher EducationMinister Dr V S Acharya," he added.

Udupi, Nov 16: The Dalit – Shudra Swabhiman Samavesha with the theme,'Why the Dalits got to embrace Vaishnava philosophy since Lord Krishnahimself denied to join the sect? was held at Narayan Guru KalyanaMantap, Bannanje, here on Tuesday November 16.

Madhwa tradition is in contradiction with Krishna – Kanakacontemporary relations. The convention was organized by the districtDalit Sangharsha Samiti (DSS) (Bheemavad) and Bangalore-based SamataSainika Dala.

Dr C S Dwarakanath, former president of State Backward class'scommission inaugurated the Samavesha.

Stating that the Madras High Court in a historical verdict announcedthat Sri Krishna worship centre was a temple and not mutt, Dwarakanathexpressed his deep concern over recent developments, wherein thedistrict-in-charge minister Dr V S Acharya wrote to the Chief MinisterB S Yeddyurappa to denotify Sri Krishna Mutt and bring it within thepurview of Ashta Mutts. Sri Krishna Mutt is a public worship centreand does not form part of Asta Mutts that propagate Vaishnaiva sect,he said.

He also urged the state authorities, to bring the Sri Krishna Muttunder the administration of religious and endowment department. 'Wehave been saddened by Pejawar seer Vishweshateertha's intention torender dheeksha to dalits as Vaishnavas, he said and urged the seer toaccept dalits as disciples, thereby paving the way for the communityto worship Lord Krishna.

Further, he said that Hinduism is passing through difficult stage inthe country for which Christian and Muslim brethrens cannot be heldresponsible. It's organizations like RSS and Sangh Parivar, which areresponsible for this, he alleged.

Udupi, Nov 17: Dalits should be admitted into the fold of Hinduism, and not Vaishnava sect, state backward classes commission chairman Dr C S Dwarakanath said here on Tuesday, Nov 16.

He was speaking at a self-respect rally of Dalits and Shudras in the Bannanje Narayana Guru auditorium. He said it in response to Shri Pejavar Swamiji's invitation to Dalits to join the Vaishnava sect. He stressed on the fact that this sect was only a part of mainstream Hindu faith and therefore it would be inappropriate to give a call to Dalits to join Vaishnava sect. Instead, they should be asked to join the Hindu way of life, he added.

He also expressed an apprehension that the decision of the government to exempt Shri Krishna Math from the religious endowments department had an ulterior motive.

Dalit Sangharsh Samiti's state convener R Mohan Raj, Republican Party of India and Samata Sainika Dal state president M Venkataswamy, Sarvajana Samaja Vedike state president B Gopal, Lolaksha, K L Ashok of Komu Sauharda Vedike and others were present on the occasion.

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CHENNAI: The ongoing schemes of the Tamil Nadu government under theScheduled Castes Sub Plan (SCSP) do not have any specific focus onupgrading the status of the dalits and it should be made meaningful byintroducing innovative schemes, according to sources.

A review of the performance of various departments done by developmentcommissioner showed that funds were diverted for populist schemes byviolating rules or either shown outside the budget but included inSCSP.

The official observation comes in the wake of the government providingcent per cent allocation under the SCSP. The proportion of SCpopulation is 19 per cent and ST is one per cent as per 2001 census.

According to the minutes of the first review meeting on the allocationmade to SCSP, which was accessed by Express, it was observed that morethan 50 per cent funds were allotted to populist schemes like DrMuthulakhsmi Reddy Maternity Welfare Scheme and Kalaignar LifeInsurance scheme which was higher than the 19 per cent funds earmarkedfor dalits.

The percentage was determined by bilateral discussion with the head ofthe health department and special secretary, finance. In the process,Government Order 134 issued in October 2006 was violated requiring themandate of the secretary, adi-dravidar and tribal welfare.

"The misuse of SCSP funds is due to deliberate attempts of dalitleadership inside or outside the regime who remain silent spectatorsor power brokers. They don't see the concern of the people due totheir vested interest," said Madras Institute of Development StudiesProf C Lakshmanan. "The government is shedding crocodile tears ondalit issues while supporting corrupt leaders like former telecomminister on one hand and neglecting the genuine concerns of dalits onthe other," he added.

Similarly, the review of free LPG connection scheme and interestsubsidy to cooperative societies, found out that the proportionateflow to SCSP was on the higher side. And interestingly, it was notsupported by expenditure figures of the previous years. "The secretaryshould take an appraisal of the SC schemes and then reduce the size ofthe flow to the required minimum," it was observed. In the energydepartment, which consumed 80 per cent of Plan allocation, a total of`85.94 crore was shown against the SCSP and no reasons were given onwhy the amount shown outside the budget was included in the SCSP.Moreover, no sub-head neither any government order existed for thisallocation.

While on paper, it seems that huge chunk of funds are allocated forthe betterment of dalits, but in realty nothing has changed as thegrants never percolate to the needy. It is time the government has torethink its strategy for uplift of dalits by focusing on education andhealth instead of focusing on populist schemes like free colour TVs, adalit activist said.

SASARAM: Acute shortage of drinking water never becomes a poll issue in Sasaram assembly constituency in Rohtas district even though it is a major problem here which Dalits and tribals face in Kaimur Hills.

The state government had set up a dozen booths in the Lok Sabha polls in 2009 in the hills known as the red corridor of the Maoists. The district administration had sought at least 25 companies of paramilitary forces to hold free and fair elections at 12 booths in the 2010 Bihar assembly polls. But after rejection of its request by the Election Commission, the administration decided to shift the polling booths to the plains.

The district administration had after a gap of 15 years managed to hold parliamentary polls in Kaimur Hills. The state government had to spend over Rs 5 crore to enable 7,000 voters of the area exercise their franchise. But after that election, the administration did not bother to provide drinking water in the area.

Lack of drinking water forced about 10,000 inhabitants of 38 villages of Nauhatta and Rohtas blocks to shift to the plains with their cattle leaving senior family members back home.

During a recent visit to the hills, mediapersons were shocked when a tribal, Bhuinya Urawn of Barhamtal village, told them, "Agar aap pani ki vyavastha nahi kar sakate to goli mar den (if you cannot arrange for drinking water, please shoot us)." All five ponds and three wells had dried up.

Other residents, Vijay Urawn and Manoj Urawn, said they have to wait an entire night for the water level to go up in wells. They manage to draw barely 10 buckets of water for a thousand villagers. The women have to carry water on their heads from places seven to eight km away from their village every day.

A district board member from Nauhatta block, Aruni Kumar, revealed that due to acute shortage of drinking water in the area, no outsider wants to marry his daughter.

In 2008, on the direction of the then DIG Shahabad range, A K Ambedkar, the local police in its survey had identified about 60 villages spread over nine panchayats of Naxal-dominated Nauhatta block which did not have a drinking water source and villagers quenched their thirst from natural sources. Similarly, in about 50 villages, handpumps had gone out of order.

The state government, on the other hand, spends crore of rupees every year to check Naxal activities. The survey report was sent to Rohtas district magistrate but to no avail. The survey report revealed that residential schools at Soli and Nagatoli in Kaimur Hills, do not have provision for drinking water.

Due to scarcity of drinking water, the mid-day meal scheme has been suspended in several schools. Inmates of residential schools have to walk three to four km to fetch water for cooking. Taking a bath is a luxury under such circumstances.

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Udupi, Nov 16, DHNS: State Backward Classes Commission former chairmanDr C S Dwarakanath, taking exception to the call of Pejawar seer toDalits to take 'Vaishnava Deekshe' said that the 'open invitation'seems more like a politico-religious conspiracy.

Speaking after inaugurating 'Dalita-Shudra Swabhimana' convention on'Madhwa parampare Vs Krishna Kanaka parampare' here at NarayanguruSabha Bhavan on Tuesday, he said that the seer does not want Dalits tobe brought in to the folds of Hinduism.

"He pretends to give religious identity to Dalits but if he is truefrom heart then he should accept a Dalit as his disciple and alsoallow Dalits to be present near the sanctum sanctorum of the temple,"Dwarakanath said

Will the Pejawar seer accept our invitation for 'sahabhojana?' he questionedHe said "Krishna mutt belongs to all. The recent decision of thegovernment of handing over Krishna temple to Ashta mutts was takenonly due to the pressure from Pejawar seer on Higher EducationMinister Dr V S Acharya," he added.

VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh Dalit Mahasabha on Saturday gave aclarion call to dalits in the State to get ready to seize politicalpower in the event of Andhra Pradesh being bifurcated. The Mahsabhaalso wanted the dalits to put an end to dynastic rule and strive for'dalit rule'.

The Mahasabha, celebrating 25 years of its existence, organised aconclave and felicitated more than 150 people who fought for justicefor the victims of Karamchedu and Tsunder carnages.

Dravidar Kazhagam president K. Veeramani, who inaugurated the meeting,gave an electrifying speech, while the Mahasabha adopted resolutionson socio, economic and political scenario.

The goal

Mr. Veeramani said that the silver jubilee of the Mahasabha should notend as a mere festival of joy of assembly, but a "rededication of ourmarch towards the goal". Thanthai Periyar EVR and Dr. Ambedkarenlightened the oppressed to get their due share in nation-buildingand its governance.

"Languages and political boundaries may separate us, but our ideologyand fight for the rights creating a new social order would alwaysunite us," he said. Referring to reservations, he said thatdiscriminatory treatment should be given in favour of thedisadvantaged sections through communal reservations. If equality wasbluntly advocated in India, which was socially unequal, it would onlyfurther widen inequality. Hence discrimination, more particularly"compensatory discrimination," was required, he added.

Mahasabha founder-general secretary Katti Padma Rao said that thedalits, backward classes and minorities would get political power onlyif the State was bifurcated. Only two castes — Kamma and Reddy – weredominating the political arena in the State though dalits, BCs andminorities constituted more than 80 per cent of the population. Now,it was time to rise to the occasion and prove that even a dalit wascapable of ruling the country, he said, and exhorted dalits to uniteand seize political power in order to put an end to their social andeconomic subjugation.

Mahasabha president Ch. Guruprasad, referring to Odarpu Yatra ofKadapa MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, said that the son of a former ChiefMinister wished to become a Chief Minister. But the socio politicalstatus of dalits, all these years, remained the same. They continuedto be cobblers and do menial jobs. Dalits should make use of power oftheir vote, and should not sell their vote for liquor or just a squaremeal. Their sole aim should be political power, he added.

After 28 yrs, hopes revive for Dalits in Banaskantha with order for re-survey

Parimal Dabhi Posted online: Sun Nov 14 2010, 03:44 hrsAhmedabad : Revenue authorities order 're-survey' of 6,574 acres ofland allocated to Dalits in 1982 but which is still illegally occupiedIn a significant development in the implementation of AgriculturalLand Ceiling Act (ALC Act) in Gujarat, revenue authorities inBanaskantha district have ordered "re-survey (re-measure)" of 6,574acres of land in the district that was allocated to landless Dalits 28years ago under the Act but is still not under their possession.

Incidentally, the land allegedly illegally occupied all these yearsrecords bumper production of castor.

Banaskantha district collector R J Patel gave verbal orders at apublic function in Vav town of the district earlier this week. Thefunction was jointly organised by the district collectorate and anAhmedabad-based organisation, Council for Social Justice (CSJ), whichhas been running a movement to get the possession of this land forDalits in Banaskantha.

District SP Harishchandra Patel, concerned revenue officers and socialactivist Indukumar Jani were also present at the function.

Secretary of CSJ, Valjibhai Patel, said, "Under the provisions of theALC Act, this land was allocated for 1,713 Dalit families in 1982.However, it remained on paper since authorities did not follow up theprocedure. All these years, it was used illegally by the upper-castepeople of the region."

Patel said that after the official allocation of the land in 1982,certain statutory procedure is required to be followed for givingpossession of the same to the allottee.

"However, due to criminal negligence on the part of various sectionsof the district revenue department like the office of the districtland records inspector (DLRI) and the mamlatdar to follow the ALC Actprovisions, physical possession of the land has not been given toDalits to date," Patel added. According to the CSJ secretary, afterallocation orders, the offices of mamlatdar and DLRI have to carry outa physical survey (measurement) of the lands to earmark each plot tobe given to the allottee. And without this, possession cannot begiven.

After sustained efforts by CSJ, district revenue authorities have nowordered to initiate the process of surveying of the 6,574 acres ofland that falls mostly in nine talukas; Vav, Tharad, Kankrej, Deodar,Palanpur, Danta, Dantiwada, Deesa and Vadgam.

When contacted, the district collector said, "I have given orders tore-survey these lands so that possession can be given to thosefamilies who have not been given the same so far." The officer,however, said possession of only around 25 per cent of the 6,574 acresof land have not been given to the allottees.

The collector said a survey was carried out earlier but since they donot have records to prove the same, a re-survey has been ordered to becompleted in three months.

The castor booty

If Council for Social Justice is to be believed, a significant portionof the castor production in Banaskantha district is being done on theland illegally occupied mostly by upper-caste farmers. Banaskantha isknown for its castor production. According to Raju Solnaki, who isassociated with CSJ, "Seventy percent of the total castor productionin world is being done by India. And in India, around 70 per centcastor is produced by Gujarat more than half of which is beingproduced in Banaskantha. The nine talukas in which the survey(measurement) has been ordered are significant castor producers."